Locking means for license plate accessory for guarding fuel tank filler tubes



Jan. 3, 1956 R, H. DICKENSHIED ET AL 2,729,500 LOCKING MEANS FOR LICENSE PLATE ACCESSORY FOR GUARDING FUEL TANK FILLER TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1952 RH. D/C KEA/SH/ED INVENTOR.

F/6.2 F763 {(4 )WM I Am A TTORNE vs 1956 R. H. DICKENSHIED ET AL 2,729,500 LOCKING MEANS FOR LICENSE PLATE ACCESSORY FOR GUARDING FUEL TANK FILLER TUBES Filed Jan. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RHD/CKENSH/ED INVENTOR.

BY ywfii JXA aE/L ATTORNEYS United States Patent LOCKING MEANS FOR LICENSE PLATE ACCES- SOIgIZSFOR GUARDING FUEL TANK FILLER TU t 1 Richard H. Dickeushied, Birmingham, and Carl F. Dickason, Ann Arbor, Micln, assignors to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application January 23, 1952, Serial No. 267,882

1 Claim. (Cl. 296-28) This invention relates generally to a vehicle body construction, and has particular reference to a fuel tank guard for preventing unauthorized access to the fuel tank filler tube.

The present invention is particularly applicable to a construction of the typeshown in Patent Number 2,708,- 594 dated May 17, 1955. In that construction the fuel tank is located centrally of the vehicle and the filler tube extends obliquely through the stationary lower back panel of the body in a central location transversely of the vehicle. The end of the filler tube and the cap are normally concealed from view by means of a pivoted bracket spring held against the back panel and carrying means for supporting a license plate thereon. In its normal position the bracket conceals the filler tube from view yet it can be readily swung downwardly to provide access to the tiller tube for filling purposes. The present invention constitutes an improvement of and/or an accessory for this construction, andprovides relatively inexpensive means for guarding the fuel tank filler tube and preventing unauthorized access thereto, eliminating the possibility of fuel theft. 1 p t It is a further object of the invention to provide a fuel tank guard or cover unit of the type discussed above which may be incorporated in new vehicle construction during production, or whichmay be readily addedtofexisting vehicles as an accessory. Still another object is to eliminate the necessity for providing separate key-operated lock means for a guard or cover unit of this type and to arrange the cover unit for cooperation with the luggage compartment lid so that the lock means of the latter may be utilized to also look the cover unit or guard construction. The arrangement is such that the luggage compartment lid must be opened a slight amount in order to permit the fuel tank cover unit to be swung downwardly to provide access to the filler tube.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds. The drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a motor vehicle body incorporating the construction of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the fuel tank guard or cover unit partially opened.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the construction shown in the preceding views.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modication.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle passenger car body having. a luggage compartment closed by a luggage compartment lid pivotally connected at its forward edge to the vehicle body. Beneath the lower and rearward marginal edge 12 of the lid is a fixed lower body panel 14. Pivotally mounted upon the back panel 14 is a guard or cover 16 supporting a license plate 18 and concealing the fuel tank filler tube located beneath the unit, yet enabling the filler tube to be readily accessible by swinging the unit downwardly and rearwardly.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, the central portion of the back panel 14 is formed with a depression 20 into which the upper end of the fuel tank filler tube 22 extends. The opening through the depressed portion 20 of the panel is sealed by means of a rubber grommet 24, and the end of the filler tube is provided with a conventional removable cap 26. The lower portion of the back panel 14 is formed with a downwardly extending marginal flange 28 (Figure 4), suitably welded to a corresponding flange 30 of the generally horizontal floor panel 32 of the luggage compartment. A conventional fuel tank (not shown) is supported beneath the floor panel 32 and is suitably connected to the filler tube 22.

A U-shaped supporting bracket 34 is connected by means of bolts 36 to the horizontal portion 38 of the depressed portion 20 of the back panel, and pivotally supports the cover unit 16. The cover unit in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 cornprises a bracket 40 and a cover plate 42. The bracket 40 is pivotally connected at its lower edge to the supporting bracket 34 by means of a pivot pin 44 and is normally urged toward the vehicle back panel by means of a coil spring 46 surrounding the pin 44. The bracket 40 carries a pair of transversely adjustable lugs 48 and a vertically adjustable lug 50 having means thereon for supporting a license plate in the conventional manner. Rubber bumpers 52 are mounted in the upper corners of the bracket 40 and bear against the back panel 14 to cushion the engagement therebetween. It will be apparent that the bracket 40 and the license plate carried thereby normally cover the depressed portion 20 of the back panel 14 and the filler tube end, but may be swung downwardly against the action of coil spring 46 to provide access to the filler tube for filling purposes.

The cover plate 42 is best shown in Figure 4 and comprises a plate-like stamping having elongated slots 54 along its lower edge for receiving the bolts 56 which extend through the license plate lugs 48 and the bracket 40. Holes 58 are provided in the cover plate 42 through which the rubber bumpers 52 extend. It will be seen that the bolts 56 clamp the cover plate 42 to the bracket 40 and that the rubber bumpers 52 extend through the cover plate as shown in Figure 2 to engage the back panel 14.

The cover plate 42 overlies the depressed portion 29 of the back panel and extends generally parallel to the panel and closely adjacent thereto. The upper portion of the back panel 14 is provided with a transversely extending depressed groove 60 and terminates in a rearwardly extending marginal flange 62 adapted to be en gaged by a weather strip 64 carried by the marginal flange 12 of the luggage compartment lid 10. The lower marginal flange 12 of the luggage compartment lid overlaps the depressed groove 60 of the back panel and generally forms a continuation of the outer surface of the back panel 14 as in conventional practice.

Adjacent its upper end the cover plate 42 of the cover I unit 16 is formed with a generally horizontal flange 66 extending forwardly of the vehicle into the depressed groove 60 of the back panel. At its forward extremity the flange 66 of the cover plate is provided with a return bend portion 68 and finally with a generally upwardly extending marginal flange 70. It will be noted that the marginal flange 70 of the cover plate 42 is overlapped by the lower marginal flange 12 of the luggage compartment lid when the latter is closed. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the luggage compartment lid when closed prevents rearward swinging movement of the cover unit 16 and consequently bars access to the filler tube 22 and the filler cap 26. Thus, when the luggage compartment 'lidis' lbckedas in normal car operation the cover unit 16 is likewise lockedautbmatically andthe' fueltank" is ade quately protected against unauthorized persons. This is readily accomplished without the necessityroftproviding a separate lockifori the fiielit ank' cover: unit andzwithoutrin anyway detracting from the appearance of the vehicle.

' Only the upper portion ofethe cover-plate 42 is visible abovelthelicense plate and it can .beattractively styled as. showntto harmonize withtthe.bodystylingr V 7 Reference is now madeto Figure 3 in=which theluggage compartment lid 10' has been. unlocked. and swung upwardly a distance. sufficient totpe'rmit the coveiaunit 16 to be swung rearwardlyf anddownwardly to. provide ac ce's'sto the filler tube. The luggage..compartment lid need not be opened'veryfar. and: inasmuch as most conventional-Z lids automaticallympen. a slightlamount whe'naunlocked. itwill 'lb'e seen thatilittl effort is requiredfto. open the-Coven unit when it is desired to. filllthet fuel .tank. 3 When the filling operation is.-comp,1eted\1thet cover. unitis readily; returned to its normal position .withtheassistance of the coil spring 46 and thelilggage comp'artmentlidcan becloscd'to again lock theflassembly.

In theemb'odiment shown in-Figuresll to 4 the coverr plate 42 may ifdesired be providediastan taccessory and= conveniently, attached Ito.v the bracket 40 by t means of the bolts 56 so that the lockingtlfeature may be available-to motorists desiring .it; It canv also,- of course, 'be installed as original equipment;

Figure .5 shows amodification intwhich (the-cover unit it 80is' formed "of'asingle braeket82pivotally connected at its lower edge to the mounti'rigbracket 84=and havingan upper marginal flange 86 integrally-formed therewith and similar in'construction to theuppertflangeof-themdifi.--

cation shown in Figures l'to 4. The plate 82 carriesthe rubber bumpers 88"to space it from the back panel 90 and likewise supports -the mounting, lugs 92 and 94 for the license plate. It \will be seen that thisvmodification differs principally in that a unitary one-piece bracket and' cover plate is provided and is designed for original equipment installation. 7

It will be understood'th at the invention is not to be limitedto the exact construction-shown .anddescribed, b'ut'th'at various changes and'modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope-ofthe invention, as defined in the appehdedtclaimt What is claimed is; I

Iii a m'o't'or'vefiicle body having a luggage compartment located adjacent the rearward end thereof, a forwardly extending floor panel for said compartment, a fixed transversely extending back panel extending upwardly from said floor panel adjacenttherearward edge thereof and for-med with a rearwardly. facing; transversely extending depressed groove at its-upper edge and an'upp'errearwardly extending marginal flange, a lid for saidluggage compartment hinged at its forward edge to said vehicle body; andhavingia rearward marginal flange overlapping the "depressed groove fdrrned at'tlie 'top' ofsaid' backpanel, a resilient Weatherstrip carried by the rearward marginal flangeioflsaid; lid engagihgqthef upper marginal flange of said back panel when the lid is tclosed to form a seal therebetween, said backpanel havi'ng adepressed cavity located centrally of the width of the vehicle, a fuel tank filler tube. extendingtthrough said back -panel into said cavity, alcapjorthe end ofsaid tillen tube',-,a--cover unit pivotallymounted ateits lower edge Non -said back: panel-and in overlapping relationship to said cavity for swinging move ment about aihorizontalaaxis saidcover unit extending upwardly-i alonga-said back= panel-1 and covering said cavityandLfillfer tube cap andtepmiriatingtin an upper 'mar'ginal flange offset forwardly from the main. portion of" saidcover unit and located in said transversely extending depressed groovei-in the back panel, said cover unit'man' ginal flange. being overlapped by therearward marginal flange oftthe luggage compartmentlid -when'the latter is closed to .prevent swinging-said cover unit rearwardly to afford acces'suto said fillertube and cap.

I References Ci't ed -in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSE were 1w"; 

